West Hollywood's 8899 Beverly Survives Legal Challenge

The medical office building could become a multifamily residential complex.

The contentious plan to convert a medical office building in West Hollywood into a multifamily residential complex has survived a major legal hurdle.

The Park La Brea News reports that a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge has rejected an appeal by the West Hollywood Residents Association (WHWRA) seeking to overturn approvals for the adaptive reuse project at 8899 Beverly Boulevard. Developer Townscape Partners intends to convert the 10-story building into 76 residential units - 15 of which would be set aside as affordable housing. Plans also call for building nine townhomes north of the building, along Rosewood Avenue, in addition to outdoor amenity space.

Townscape has agreed to a public benefits package which includes a $2.2 million contribution to fund West Hollywood's Design District Streetscape Plan and $1.1 million to construct a pocket park on Beverly Boulevard.

WHWRA's lawsuit against the project had argued that it failed to comply with the West Hollywood's general plan, which limits buildings to three stories along Beverly Boulevard. However, 8899 Beverly was constructed in 1962, more than twenty years before the City was incorporated.